of this. And he took the decision out of my hands by standing. “I still have time to make it to my next class. I promise to be a total kiss ass to my dad for a while to get him off your back about me, okay?”
“Thank you. And you’re not going to tell him about any of this, right?” He’d technically agreed, but I still didn’t know if I could fully trust him when it came to his father.
He stopped right in front of where I sat, and he looked as though he wanted to touch me. Instead, he merely said, “I promise” and walked away.
Once Hayle had disappeared from view, Leo kissed the top of my head. “Are you okay?”
Was I okay knowing that my mother had most likely been murdered because of Vincent’s shitty business practices? And that he’d literally been warned it was going to happen and did nothing to prevent it?
I didn’t know if I’d ever be okay with that.
So, I chose not to answer his question. Because there was one more thing he needed to know.
I rested my head on his shoulder as I tilted my head up to peer at him. “There’s something else.”
“Do I want to know?” he asked dryly.
“You really don’t.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Okay, then, give it to me straight.”
“Your dad didn’t just threaten to send me back to Kansas if I don’t convince Tristin to move back home by fall break.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “He also said, and I quote, ‘Leo can kiss his trust fund goodbye.’”
Chapter Eighteen
Thea
“The Avengers or the Justice League?” Levi asked after we’d helped a long line of customers.
“What theme is this?” I’d played “This or That” with my co-worker at The Grind enough to know he always had a theme in mind.
He shrugged. “Let’s go with fictional characters. Make it simple.”
“Okay.” I hadn’t seen all of the Marvel or DC Comics movies, but I’d seen enough to easily answer, “Avengers.”
“Agreed.”
We both looked to Petra, who lifted her hands, as though weighing her options. “I don’t know. I can’t decide if Henry Cavill or Chris Evans is sexier.”
“Really?” I asked. “But they’re both so clean-cut and pretty. I figured you’d be more of a Jason Momoa or Tom Hiddleston girl.”
“What can I say?” She grinned widely. “I have eclectic tastes.”
“You still didn’t answer the question,” Levi said. “And there are considerations other than the attractiveness of the men, you know.”
He sounded irritated, an observation that I found rather interesting. Since Petra and I didn’t normally share the same shifts, this was the first time I’d worked with both of them. Levi was typically so easygoing, I had to infer that his change in mood had everything to do with my petite friend.
I just couldn’t decide if it was because he loved her or hated her. Maybe a little bit of both.
She huffed. “Fine. I guess I have to go with the Avengers since, as an ensemble, they’re sexier. And...” She paused dramatically. “To pacify Levi, the characters themselves have more interesting backstories.”
He nodded in acceptance of the answer before turning back to me. “Okay, Thea. It’s your turn.”
I thought for a few moments. “Elizabeth Bennet or Emma Woodhouse?” I’d been on a Jane Austen kick lately and had watched the BBC versions of Pride and Prejudice and Emma in the last month.
Levi raised his hands in surrender. “I can’t even touch that one.”
“Okay,” I replied, giving him a pass this once. “Petra?”
“Hmmm. Emma is rich and quite the meddler, but she has an incredible zest for life. So, I think she’s the winner. How about you?”
“Elizabeth, of course.” Who didn’t love Elizabeth Bennet?
“Not surprising.” Her green eyes brightened. “Oh, I’ve got one. Snow White or Cinderella?”
Levi wasted no time answering this time. “Cinderella.”
Petra lifted her brows. “Oh, and why is that?”
“I prefer blondes,” he replied meaningfully as his gaze swept over her blonde hair that was boasting a purple streak today.
Huh. Maybe it was more love than hate on his part. Petra, on the other hand, was giving off exactly zero signals that she was interested in him. Which made no sense to me, since even without the messy brown hair, lip ring, and tattoos, Levi fit squarely into the “hot” category.
“I’m going to have to go with Levi on this one,” I said, breaking the silence that had fallen after his declaration.
“You prefer blondes too?” Then Petra answered her own question. “Considering your affinity